Taiga
By: Mehalet Bezabih
Vitals Of Biome
The Taiga is the largest terrestrial biome on earth. The taiga extends in a broad band across North America, Europe, and Asia t the southern border of the artic tundra also found at cool and high elevations in the more temperate latitudes, for example in much of the mountanious western reigon of North America. The weather in the Taiga is long and cold winters and short wet mild summers. The total yearly pwecipitaion in the Taiga biome is 10-30 inches of rain which is (25-75 cm).
Climate Of Biome
The climate in a Taiga is mostly cold. Fire is NOT uncommon during the summer and percepitiaion is also pretty high the rain changes into snow during the winter.
Winter lowest temperature: -65 F, Winters highest temperature: 30 F, Summers lowest temperature: 30, Summers highest temperature: 70 F.
There are really only two seasons in the taiga which are summer and winter.
Plant Life
Taiga has less diversity in plant life. THe most common type of tree is the conifier or cone bearing tree. Conifiers also known as Evergreens include pines, spruces and firs. The soil in Taiga is very thin and rocky. Plants in the taiga have different adaptions. Although the taiga has moderately high precipitation, the ground freezes during the winter months and plant roots are unable to get water, for example broadleaf trees, such as birch and aspen, are able to survive the harsh climate of the taiga. Evergreen tress adapt because they don't drop their leaves when temperatures cool, they don't have to re-grow them in the spring. Plants get their energy from the sun, and soil is a source of nutrients but the soil in the taiga doesn't have very much nutrients. That limits the amount of energy available for the tree. Even though there is limited energy for structural growth rather then producing leaves. Conifer trees don't loose their leaves throughout the year, and are able to carry out photosynthesis whenever conditions are favorable.
Animals
The cold climate of Taiga makes it hard for animals to live there. Many have thick coats of fur to insulate against the cold, some hibernate. Animal pupulations are mainly seed eating squirells and jays small mammals, deer, moose, elk, and snowshoe hare. Typical predators for this area are grizzely bears, volves, rynxes, and wolverines. Some animals hide from predators by changing color to lend into the different seasons such as summer and winter, for example Ermine is dark brown in the summer in the winter it turns white. Some animals such as bears in the taigas fur turns thicker in the winter then in the summer so that they can get warm. The Canada lynx and the snowshoe hare also have wide feet that allow them to travel easily across the snow to either catch prey or escape a predator. The Siberian tiger's long legs help the tiger to walk through deep snow, its large paws act like snowshoes. The grizzly bear eats a lot during the summer to produce an extra layer of fat to kedp it warmer during the winter 3 examples of predator and prey is the wold (the predator) and an elk (the prey), an owl (predator) and a mouse (prey), and a lnyx (the predator, and and a fox (the prey), The Canadian Lynx (predator) and the Snowshoe Rabbit( prey) .An example of competition in the taiga biome is the competition between red foxes and wolves for prey. An example of cooperation is a redwood and moss, the redwood provides the moss a place to live, while the moss gives the tree protection.
Additional Information
The major industries of the Taiga include logging, minning, and hydroelectric development.
Ecological Concerns
Some human threats to the Taiga are things like polution, oil spills, acid rain, and mines and lumber mills. Some animal endangered species are: European Mink, Beavers, and Wood Bison. Some plants are: Labrador Tea, Long Leaf Pine, and Siberian Larch. The taiga filters millions of filters of water every day. The tress in the taiga remove carbon dioxide and convert it into oxygen